Goldest and the Kingdom of Thorns (9 page)

“Well, tell that to the ladybugs and see if they follow – to be ruled by a frog!” the King exclaimed. He couldn’t help but burst into a fit of hysterical laugher, again, after he had said the last word – ‘frog’.

Again, Shadow walked over to the King and growled menacingly at him. Again, the King ignored Shadow, knowing that his allegiance belonged only to Augean. Shadow was no use to him.

Goldest became extremely frustrated and did not try to conceal it.

“Please ignore him, Goldest. Sometimes he acts like a silly pea pod!” the Queen remarked to her.

Augean giggled at her grandmother’s statement, knowing her words to be true. Ushi was more than agitated by the King’s conduct and lack of respect for his friend. He did not wish to say anything else to him out of fear the King might change his mind about helping them to restore the Kingdom of the Ladybugs.

“I will go with you, Goldest. You have protected my heart, I owe you mine also. But alas, it won’t be gold – like yours!” he remarked to her with a teasing smile, trying to take her thoughts away from the King’s disgraceful conduct.

The Queen was quite pleased to take on a new adventure in another kingdom. Her head started to whirl as she thought about all the weaving, spinning, sewing and supplies they would have to gather to take with them.

“A
frog
. Can you just imagine being ruled by a frog?” the King said to himself out loud.

Ushi turned to the Queen and Augean. “Thank you both for wanting to help Goldest beautify her kingdom. You two are the finest maidens I have ever known.” Then he looked at the King. “The King should be so proud to have an unselfish Queen and granddaughter like you two ladies.” He bowed his head to the King and said, “I thank you for your generosity, my King.”

The King raised a questionable eyebrow at Ushi. “My generosity? What mean you, Ushi? There is a
price to pay for everything, you know.”

The Queen and Augean looked nervously at one another. Goldest started to hiccup, slowly at first; then the hiccups grew in momentum as the seconds ticked by.

Ushi now raised an eyebrow at the King. “And what price do you ask of myself?”

“You are the price, Ushi,” the King stated calmly in all seriousness.

The Queen and Augean gasped as Goldest continued to hiccup uncontrollably. “Myself? Explain yourself, my King,” Ushi said, with some apprehension.

“You said it yourself, Ushi – ‘my King’,” the King informed him.

Ushi was startled by the King’s spoken words and knew there would be trouble from the King coming his way. He sat quietly still and let the trouble brew.

“When you are finished with the completion of the Kingdom of the Ladybugs, you will come back to the Kingdom of the Willows and resume your command again, and be by my side – just as it once was before that woman stole you away from us!” the King firmly stated to Ushi.

“She is not just a woman – she is a princess!” Ushi responded, trying to keep his humiliation down and in control, not wanting to ruin it for Goldest.

“And so was Goldest!” the King remarked in triumph.

“Grandfather!” Augean exclaimed. She, too, was getting disgusted with him for his unrelenting rudeness.

The Queen put her hand on Augean’s hand to be silent. “Best to remain calm, my dear,” the Queen whispered to Augean.

“Women are weak. You came back because this so-called princess, who rules over a bunch of teeth, was not strong enough to hold you to her! Otherwise, you would still be with her! You are back – and back to stay, I might add.” The King rose from the table to take his leave. He was tired of the subject matter. He had granted their wish, but it was conditional only under his terms. After all, he was the King. “There is a price for everything. I am a King first! And you, Ushi, are a warrior first – a Willow Warrior! Remember that.”

The King strutted out of the room, taking his power and authority with him. The sitters at the table watched him leave the room, in shocked and utter silence at his spoken words. Shadow growled at his retreating back.

Ignorant pea pod
, Goldest hiccuped to herself in thought.
Someday, when I am Queen in my own kingdom, I will teach you some manners!

It was up to the Queen to break the shocked silence. “You must excuse him, Ushi. He missed you and your constant companionship. He wants you back here with him.”

“Do not fret, my Queen, I know what you speak of is true,” Ushi reassured her, trying to break the uncomfortable tension which now filtered throughout the room.

A golden tear fell from Goldest’s eye as she sniffled. “I would not expect you to be the price of my kingdom, Ushi. I release you from all responsibility and
will manage on my own – like a Queen should.”

“Hush now, Goldest! You need Augean’s and my help – and that you shall get. Besides, it will be fun restoring and decorating a once beauteous kingdom,” the Queen informed her with a smile.

Augean’s innocent curiosity now overcame her and she couldn’t help but to ask, “What happened to the courtship of the Tooth Fairy Princess, Ushi?”

“I got bored and tired of her playing with my heart and Savagio’s heart.”

Augean was shocked at Ushi’s spoken words. “Savagio!”

“Savagio was just as fond of the princess as Ushi was – and she knew it!” Goldest informed her. “Why, it was like being at a tea party. She used both their hearts as cookies set on a cookie platter with teacups surrounding them! Then she took each one and munched on them with her hot tea!”

“Goldest!” a mortified Ushi cried out to her, his face turning ashen at her huffy, careless words.

The Queen chuckled. “Just like a woman!”

Ushi looked sternly at Goldest. “And I got tired of a certain golden heart playing her pranks on poor Savagio.”

“Shame on you, Goldest!” Augean exclaimed. Her attention was turned back to Ushi. “You are not bitter towards Savagio?”

“Why should I be bitter? The princess will have to make her own decision. I will not make it for her.”

“You speak like a wise, chivalrous warrior who is a companion to a King. I praise you for your judgement, Ushi,” the Queen told him. The Queen looked down
at Goldest. “And thank you for taking care of Ushi for us.”

“Ushi can take care of himself. I just protect his heart until it belongs to a woman so deserving of him,” Goldest remarked wholeheartedly.

“And you speak wisely, like a Queen, Goldest. All will fall into place – you shall see. Now, let us all get some rest. Our days will be busy preparing for our departure with all our crafts and goodies!” the Queen said to all, wanting to speak privately with the King about his personal behavior before they retired for the night. She was deeply grateful that he had granted his permission for her and Augean to undertake such an exciting adventure, but she was not happy with his mocking and teasing of Goldest for being a frog.
My, but it must have been hard on her, all these years, being a frog and not herself, losing her family and kingdom
, the sympathetic Queen thought to herself.

“You are so sweet and dear, Grandmother. I hope I will be a Queen just like you some day. You have such patience, virtue and understanding.”

“Why, thank you, Granddaughter.”

“I am so proud to be surrounded by three gracious ladies within this Domain. My heart really belongs to you three!” Ushi remarked.

With me being the finest of all
, Goldest thought to herself.

They all rose from the table and retired for the night. The Queen and Augean escorted Ushi to his own room, which had been kept clean and open for him. The King wanted it that way because he truly believed that Ushi would be back. Extra blankets were
brought into the room by the servants. Fresh water and towels were also brought in. The servants made a blazing fire in the fireplace there for him. Augean lit spicy incense in cones for success, love, luck and the healing of his heart. Goldest sat quietly on the windowsill and watched the activity in the room, breathing in the spice. After they had all left the room, a tired Ushi went to sleep for the night with Goldest wrapped in a blanket at the bottom of his bed. The warmth of the room and the delicious, soothing smell of spice made them fall asleep at once.

As the sun rose with hues of reds and oranges, the warmth of its rays woke Ushi. He saw Goldest sitting on the windowsill, watching the sunrise. The colorful rays made her coat of gold glow with scarlet. He closed his eyes and decided to sleep in for a while longer, being tired from the long, hard ride, and not really being over his encounter with the cold marble floor in the Kingdom of Marble.

Later that morning, he awoke and heard bustling activity both inside and outside the castle. Goldest went down to the servants’ quarters and called for a fresh bath for Ushi up in his room. He spent the rest of the morning bathing and cleaning himself up. Goldest hopped outside and lay in a bubbling pink brook while Ushi tended to himself.

Ushi then went to pay a visit to the Willow Warriors, to speak with them about his future endeavor and ask them for their help.

During the next several weeks that followed, the inside of the Willow Castle was a hive of activity. You did not
dare to enter the main castle dining hall unless you were able to lend a helping hand. Any type of talent was welcomed. The rumors had spread quickly throughout the kingdom and everyone was excited about the restoration of the Ladybug Castle and its lands. There was not a single soul who did not want to help the little golden frog out. Supplies were being sewn, woven and crafted and prepared to take with them to refurnish the Ladybug Castle. Groups of women wove tapestries, sewed cloths and linens and crocheted doilies. The Queen made her rounds on a daily basis inspecting the tapestries, cloths, linens and doilies. She nodded her head in adamant approval at all the items she inspected, which brought smiles from the women. She made it a point to kindly compliment them at all times, knowing they would do a job worthy of their special talents. She hired the best of artists to paint pictures to hang on the castle walls, which brought forth the best of the craftsmen, not wanting to be surpassed by any artist. The furniture crafted was of the finest quality. The Queen chuckled as she saw how everyone wanted to excel above all others. Even the King was in the spirit, and had several of his best redwood and maple trees cut down for the making of furniture. It was a happy time for the kingdom, with everyone working towards one great cause together.

One day the King made his own rounds throughout the castle and its grounds inspecting the work done. He took notice of everyone’s delight. He laughed at himself as he imitated his Queen and dutifully complimented everyone. He found himself enjoying the whole affair.
What a clever King I am
, he thought to
himself. His ego was floating mighty high at the present time. No one in the kingdom wanted to step on the King’s boots at this juncture and squash his ego. This was a period when he was easy-going, and you could make requests and ask for favors without cringing before he replied.

As the Queen was making her rounds one afternoon, she came upon Shadow, tangled up in the spools of thread from playing with them. “Wait until Augean sees what a mess you’ve made out of yourself!”

Shadow whined as he tried to untangle himself. At that instant, a woman from the castle’s kitchen, called Urbana, rushed into the room towards the Queen. She was in a frenzy. “My Queen! My Queen! The Princess Augean is selecting our best dishes and utensils to take to the Ladybug Castle.”

“Oh hush, Urbana. We have plenty of best dishes and utensils in our kitchen that have never been served on as of yet.”

“Maybe you did not hear me right, my Queen, but her selection is from our entertaining dishes – not from the everyday affairs.”

“May I remind you, Urbana, all our dishes were made for entertaining.”

“Humph!” Urbana boldly cried out to the Queen.

The Queen laughed at Urbana. She took her outburst lightly. She put her arm across Urbana’s back and shoulders and walked slowly with her back to the kitchen.

“Come, Urbana. It looks like I shall have to intervene and make right what should stay and what could go. I know all too well our little princess is excited
about the restoration of Goldest’s kingdom.” The same activity was taking place outside the castle walls with the Willow Warriors collecting seed, throwing bags of seed and feed on to the wagons, selecting and digging up bushes, plants, flowers and various exotic shrubs to take with them to the Ladybug Castle. The King and Ushi rode their mounts around the activity taking place every day. They both took note of what was being selected to take back with them, with the King making sure that they did not dig up his best.

Only the finest
, thought Ushi. He turned towards the King and told him, “Goldest deserves only the finest!”

The King smiled, knowing how much Goldest meant to him.
I hope he is not falling in love with that haughty frog
, thought the King with disgust.
Then I will really have a problem on my hands
!

“The Kingdom of the Ladybugs will fare well with our supplies. It appears that kingdom will be replanted and nourished with our rich materials taken from us.” So saying, the King put Ushi’s mind at ease.

“Goldest has spoken to me that she will always owe homage to you.”

The King laughed. “A frog holding homage to a King? Spare me, please!”

Ushi’s cheeks flushed dark with ire as he held his anger in. “My King, she is more than a frog. She was a princess, and is now a Queen.”

The King was highly amused, again. “A frog for a Queen? Come now, Ushi. Has she spun a spell on you like the other princess had done?” The King snickered at his remark.

Yet again, Ushi was very much annoyed with him.
“Let me remind you, my King, Goldest and I are friends and protectors of one another.”

“My great warrior needs a
frog
to protect him?” the King asked him with smartness. Ushi was silent, not wanting, as always lately, to spoil it for Goldest. His indignation began to seed and grow towards the King.

“Come now, Ushi. Let me remind you, I have granted permission to help in the restoration of the Ladybug Castle and its lands only to amuse myself – and that is all! And it will keep the Queen busy instead of checking into my private affairs all the time, as well as grooming Augean into decorating a new castle. Someday, she may be a Queen and grace another’s kingdom.”